Automatic means for throwing switches.



Patented luly I6, |90I.

H. P. MGARDLE.

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOB THRUWING ASWIIGHES.

(Application led Mar. 18, 1901.) (No Model.)

hanane.: @24%, 9 n@ lUNTTnTi STaTns PaTnNT Triton@ HUGH P. MCARDLE, OF BAINBRIDGE, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR THROW/ING SWITCHES..

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 678,752, dated July 16, 1901.

.Application filed March 18,l 1901. Serial No, 51,690. (No model.) l

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH P. MoARnLn'a citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge,in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Means for Olosin g Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic switches, and more particularly to that type which is set in operation by an arm carried by an engine or car.

One object of the invention is to provide means for closing a switch which has been inadvertently left open, the operation being performed while the train is at some distance from the switch, whereby a rapidly-moving train will at all times nd an open main track before it.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically closing a switch and means carried by the approaching train for setting in motion said automatic means without requiring the attention of any one.

With these objects in view it consists of a switch stand, means within the stand for closing a switch, means at a distance from said stand controlling the operation thereof, and means applied to an engine or car for operating said controller.

It also has certain other objects in View; and it consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangementsof parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a top plan view of a railroad track and switch with my automatic switch-closing mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinalvertical section through box, illustrating the release-lever in its normal vertical position; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the switch-stand.

It is a well-known fact that a great proportion of the railway accidents occurring at the present time are due to the carelessness of switchmen in leaving open switches leading to yards, whereby a swiftly-moving train is side-tracked and a rear-end collision occurs before the engineer has time to reverse his engine. My invention contemplates the re moval of all such danger in railway travel by providing means which when in operation will make it impossible for any train to be side-tracked without such being` the intent of the engineer.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l indicates a main track, and 2 a siding thrown into communication by means of switch 3. Switch 3 is controlled and operated from a switch-stand, as 4, which comprises a casing 5, secured to the cross-ties by any suitable securing means, as G 6, and a central vertical shaft, as 7, provided with any suitable targets, as 8 S, at its top'and a crank-arm 9 at the lower end thereof. This shaft 7 is supported and braced near its upper end by a cap, as 10, inclosing the upper end of casing 5, which cap is preferably formed with an ap` erture centrally thereof, as at 10. The lower end of shaft 7 may be braced in any suitable manner, as by supports 11 11. Formed immediately above cap 10 and made integral with or keyed to shaft 7 is an annular ring 12, which carries a comparatively short arm pivoted thereto, as at 13. Pivoted to arm 13 is a much longer arm, as 14, which is adapted to engage notches 15 15 in the periphery of cap 10 for locking shaft 7 against rotation. In order to make the locking effect complete, I provide a spring-catch of any desired type, as 16, which is adapted to engage the outer free end of arm 14 and retain the same until said catch is downwardly pressed. For the purposes of my invention I provide a spring, as 17, beneath arm 14 and exerting a constant pressure outwardly, so that when said arm is released from catch 1G it will be thrown clear of notch 15 and shaft 7 will be left free to rotate.

Secured to the casing 5 at its base or to any of the surrounding parts desired at one end thereof is provided a coiled spring, as 19, which is adapted to be secured at its opposite end to the lower end of the crank-arm 9,whereby when said shaft 7 is rotated it will tend to stretch said spring and give said shaft a constant tendency to rotate in the opposite di reetion.

A rod, as 1S, is secured to the switch mem- IOO bers, which rod when shifted operates to open or close the switch 3, and this rod is extended, as at 17, and adapted to be pivotally secured to the lower end of crank-arm 9, whereby when shaft 7 is rotated in one direction the switch will be opened and when rotated in the other the switch will be closed. The construction and arrangements of the parts are such that when the switch is open the spring 19 will be extended and when the switch is closed the said spring will be retracted, or partially so. This is advantageous, as it gives the parts a tendency to close the switch whenever they are free to accomplish the object.

The most important feature of my invention is the means for placing it within the power of an engineer of a moving locomotive to release catch 16, thereby freeing the parts and closing the switch. This is accomplished by means of a flexible or other connection, as 20, secured to the outer end of catch 16, leading beneath antifriction means, as 21, beneath the stand 4, about antifriction-pulleys 22, and to release-levers, as 23 23, situated some distance down the track on either side of said stand 4. I preferably provide a tube or other suitable housing, as 24 24, for inclosing the said flexible connection between catch 16 and lever 23, whereby the 'same is protected from weather and the parts are kept constantlyin operable condition.

The lever 23 is preferably of metal, but maybe of any material found most suited for the purpose. The said lever is pivoted intermediate its lengt-h, as at 25, and is provided upon its lower end with a lug or eye or other securing means, as 26, for receiving the lexible connection 20. A spring, as 27, is provided and adapted to retain said lever 23 in a vertical position and to cause it to reassume such position whenever moved upon its pivot from whatever cause. A housing, as 28, is provided about said lever 23 and formed with an elongated slot in its upper face for permitting of the backward and forward play of said lever upon its pivot. To prevent the filling of this slot and housing with foreign substances and to protect the parts from weather, I preferably provide a sliding cover, as 29, over the said slot. This cover 29 is adapted to move vwith lever 23, and thereby keep said slot and housing constantly closed. As thelevers 23 at the opposite sides of switchstand 4 are exact duplicates of each other, I do not deem it necessary to describe more than one of them.

An arm, as 30, is pivoted transversely of each locomotive expected to operate my improved automatic switch. This arm is provided with a crank, as 3l 3l, at each of its free ends and an intermediate crank 32. A shaft, as 33, leads from crank 32 to the hand of the operator, and by'said shaft 33 the arm 30 may be rotated, so that the crank ends 31 may be lowered into operative position or raised above the position which would permit Contact with levers 23. L

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved automatic switch-closing mechanism will be readily apparent.' The engineer having at any previous time lowered the crank ends of shaft 30 into operative position and switch 3 having been left open by mistake or otherwise, upon the locomotive coming opposite lever 23 one of the crank-arms 31 will contact with the exposed portion of said lever yon the side corresponding with that of spring 27, whereby flexible connection 2O will be given a quick pull, and thereby release catch 16, permitting shaft 7 to revolve and the switch 3 to close. When the locomotive has passed the switch-stand and reaches the opposite lever 23, one of the crank ends 31 of arm 30 will strike the same without injury or effect. The parts thus operated and the switch thus closed will remain in such condition until altered by hand. It will be seen that upon again opening the switch the levers 23 23 are automatically in operative condition and need no attention whatever, as they will always act Vwhen necessary.

One of the most important features of my invention is the fact that switch 3 cannot be opened and locked in an open condition without at the same time setting the automatic means for closing the same.

Although I have described in detail one specific embodiment of my invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction specified and shall feel at liberty to deviate from the size,- shape, and minor details of construction within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Means for automatically closing an open switch, comprising a switch-stand, means for' operatinga switch from said stand, and means for controlling said switch-operating mechanism at a distance, comprising a lever, iiexible connection between said switch operating mechanism and said lever, a housing about said lever and a sprin g bearing upon the front side of said lever for maintaining it in a vertical position, substantially as described.

2. A11 automatically closed switch, comprising a switch-stand provided with means for operating said switch, means leading to a lever at a distance from said switchoperat ing means, and means carried by a locomotive for operating said lever. and thereby closing the switch, comprising a shaft transversely of said locomotive, cranks formed at the free ends thereof, and a crank intermediate the length thereof, whereby said shaft may be pivoted above the plane of contact with said lever or into such plane, substan tially as described.

3. Means for automatically closingaswitch, comprising a vertical shaft, means for sup porting the same, a crankarm at the lower end of said shaft, means connected to said Ico crankarm for moving said switch, a spring secured to said crank-arm, the construction being such that said spring will have a constant tendency to close said switch, meansv ery, an arm secured to said shaft, a second arm pivoted to said first-mentioned arm, a spring adapted to press outwardly against said second arm, means for locking said arm within one of the notches in said cap or cover against said spring-pressure, and means for releasing said second arm, the said releasing means being at a distance from said switchstand, and adapted to be operated by being struck by an arm carried by a passing train, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HUGH P. MCARDLE.

Witnesses:

J. Il. FAKE, W. P. SHEIBLE. 

